Fok Hing-tong facts for kids
Fok Hing-tong (Chinese: 霍慶棠; 1872–1957), also known as Huo Qingtang, was an important woman from Hong Kong. She was a successful businesswoman and a social reformer who worked to improve society. She was the wife of Ma Ying-piu, who founded the Sincere Department Store. Fok Hing-tong also served as a director and chairwoman of the Chinese YWCA of Hong Kong. She was a leading figure in the 1920s anti-mui tsai movement, which helped many young girls.
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Who Was Fok Hing-tong?
Fok Hing-tong was born in 1872 in Hong Kong. Her family was Christian, and her father, Fok Ching-shang, was a vicar at St. Stephen's Anglican Church. He was one of the first Chinese clergymen in Hong Kong.
Her Family and Marriage
Fok Ching-shang had four daughters and wanted them all to marry Christians. Fok Hing-tong married Ma Ying-piu, an Australian-Chinese businessman. He was the founder of the Sincere Department Store, which was the first Chinese department store in Hong Kong.
Fok Hing-tong and Ma Ying-piu had 13 children together. Her sisters also married Australian-Chinese Christians. For example, her sister Fok Shui-yue married Ma Wing-chan. Her fourth son, Ma Man-fai, also became a social activist.
A Pioneer in Business
Fok Hing-tong traveled with her husband to Australia. They returned to Hong Kong in 1894. She then convinced her husband to open the Sincere Company.
When the first Sincere Department Store opened in 1900, Fok Hing-tong became a saleswoman there. This was very unusual for her time. Most respectable Chinese women did not work in public. She was one of the first modern Chinese saleswomen.
Fighting for Girls' Rights
Fok Hing-tong was also a very active leader in social causes in Hong Kong. She joined her sister Fok Shui-yue and other women to create the first women's association in Hong Kong. This was the Young Women's Christian Association.
She served as a director of the YWCA from 1920 to 1928, and again from 1948 to 1957. She was also the chairwoman from 1920 to 1923.
Under her leadership, she strongly supported the anti-mui tsai movement. This campaign worked to stop the practice of buying young girls to work as servants. She was also the chairwoman of the committee that investigated this issue. Her efforts helped to change laws and protect many young girls.
